Champions League: Xavi sad Barca drew against Napoli but Calzona was happy with the result

Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez feels ‘the fairest result would’ve been our victory’ after a 1-1 Champions League draw with Napoli.

“We are a little sad at the result, we should’ve won the game,” Xavi told Amazon Prime Video Italia.

“Napoli barely managed anything in attack, we allowed them only one chance. These are the matches we ought to be winning, I think the fairest result would’ve been our victory.”

Robert Lewandowski had opened the scoring at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona after a dominant opening 30 minutes, which saw Alex Meret keep out Lewandowski, Ilkay Gundogan, and Lamine Yamal.

However, Victor Osimhen pounced for the only shot on target from the Partenopei, beating Marc-Andre ter Stegen on the Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa assist.

“After we took the lead, they woke up, which is precisely when we should’ve killed off the game. This is the Champions League.”

Much like Napoli, Barcelona are also having a disastrous season despite winning the domestic title last term and they started certainly the more confident team this evening.

“I liked the performance from the team, I saw progress both in attack and defence. The performance was more than good, we just had to finish it off.”

The second leg will be in Barcelona on March 12, but not at Camp Nou as it is undergoing restructuring work, so it will be played at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys instead.

Francesco Calzona admits some ‘tactical confusion’ was natural at Napoli in the circumstances, but hails their ‘reaction’ to a strong Barcelona start. ‘That is fundamental.’

It has been a whirlwind few days for the Slovakia coach, as he was hired to replace Walter Mazzarri on Monday evening and had just two training sessions to prepare for this Champions League Round of 16 tie.

“We have a lot of work to do, but I congratulated the team for rediscovering the desire to fight,” Calzona told Amazon Prime Video Italia.

“It was a very good second half, but on a tactical level, we need progress. I put out some players who were not in the best shape, we allowed Barcelona to change the lines and cross the field, which you cannot do with a team like this.

“However, in the end, we tried to win it and that is an important sign. I liked the spirit of the side.”

 “The players gave their heart and soul to avoid defeat against a very strong opponent,” continued Calzona.

“Considering our tactical problems, we struggled at the start, but I can understand there is some confusion after only one and a half days of working together.

“Those who came off the bench provided more energy and organisation, doing very well.”

Calzona was certainly not shy about making strong decisions, as he hauled off Kvicha Kvaratskhelia for Jesper Lindstrom and then replaced Osimhen straight after the goal.“We suffered a great deal in the first half-hour, then the team reacted. It was a disorganised reaction, but still a reaction. That is fundamental, fighting to the end against a team of this quality leaves me satisfied.”

It is all square going into the second leg on March 12, which will not be at Camp Nou due to restructuring work, so is instead hosted by the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.